subject: Snohomish County Incentive For Responsible Citizen [print this page] The rising concern among individuals about energy conservation has compelled them to take measures to reduce energy consumption and waste. Several steps are being taken by responsible individuals to make their home more energy efficient, such as using efficient Energy Star rated appliances and insulation. Even the government is offering incentives, such as the Home Star program or the PUD Rebate Snohomish; to help individuals in this endeavor.
Insulation is the wisest investment you can do for home improvement. Most of the houses use a major amount of energy for heating and cooling purposes, which accounts for 50%-70% of the electricity bill. However, the heating and cooling is not done effectively as most of the heat is lost from the homes through lofts and walls, due to improper insulation. Even during installation of windows, weathervane, doors and others, there are gaps left through which the heat escapes. However, proper insulation resists flow of heat and makes the house comfortable, warm during winters and cool during summers. This helps in saving electricity as you can turn down the thermostat by a few degrees.
Proper amount of insulation and right installation is very important to avail maximum the benefits of insulation. You should get an insulation audit of your house as per the local building code. The insulation needs vary from one house to another, as it is dependent on a number of factors such as building construction, climate and energy costs, amongst others. There are different types of insulation available in the market, such as radiant barrier, reflective system, concrete block, blanket (batts and rolls), spray-on and blown in insulation. These insulations are composed of materials, including fiberglass, cellulose, foam and mineral wool (rock or slag).
Depending upon the area to be insulated and amount of insulation required, you may use a number of insulation products to make the house energy efficient. The fiberglass Blown In Insulation is preferred for areas that are hard-to-reach and for filling cavities or gaps near windows, Weathervane or doors. For duct insulation, you may use radiant barrier; and for insulating floors and ceilings rock wool blanket is better. Hence, while choosing the type of insulation, the quality and effectiveness of the material must be given preference over its costs.
Since proper insulation helps in conserving energy, it saves on electricity bills and you can recover the overall cost of insulation installation in few years. Moreover, through the PUD Rebate Snohomish, you can get financial incentives that will help reduce the cost on the project. Hence, invest in insulation to make your home more energy efficient, comfortable as well as save on utility bills.
